CEMILAC approves use of biofuel for Indian Air Force aircraft

In India, the use of biofuel in Indian Air Force military aircraft has been cleared by the Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification after months of trials and is expected to start with the transport fleet and helicopters. The biofuel being uses is produced from jatropha seeds sourced within India.

“The indigenously produced biofuel has been finally cleared for use by the premier airworthiness certification agency of the country,” a senior defense ministry official told Energy World. “An IAF official said the approval will enable the force to fulfil its commitment to fly the maiden IAF An-32 aircraft on January 26 with a blend of bio-jet fuel.”

The hope is that CEMILAC will eventually give full certification of the biofuel for use on commercial scale civil aircraft and help move forward the National Policy on Biofuels 2018.

“On being completely satisfied with the performance parameters, the agency has formally granted its approval for use of this fuel, produced from non-conventional sources such as non-edible vegetable/ tree borne oil to be used on military aircraft,” the defense ministry told Energy World. “Increased demand of bio-jet fuel would give impetus to increase in collection of tree-borne non-edible oil seeds, which, in turn, will help generate ancillary income, increase remuneration for tribal and marginal farmers, and enthuse cultivation/ collection of oilseeds.”